IOL with Drug Delivery Devices and Uninterrupted PCO Barrier Edge

ABSTRACT

An ophthalmic implant including an IOL with haptics, and drug delivery devices secured to the haptics. The posterior-most extent of the drug delivery device is located anterior to the posterior edge or PCE barrier edge, of the IOL. In other configurations, the drug delivery devices are provided with PCO barrier edges.

FIELD OF THE INVENTIONS

The inventions described below relate to the field of ophthalmicimplants such as intraocular lenses.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONS

Intraocular lenses (IOL's) are artificial lenses for the eye that can beimplanted to replace the natural lens of a patient's eye after thenatural lens is removed. The natural lens might be removed because it isaffected by cataracts, and the IOL can be implanted to provide clearvision and some degree of focusing to the patient. An intraocular lensmay also be implanted in a patient without removing the natural lens (aphakic intraocular lens or PIOL), to correct extreme near-sightedness orfar-sightedness. It is advantageous to administer some therapeuticagents to the eye, coincident with implantation of the IOL, to alleviatevarious side effects of the IOL or treat other conditions of the eyethat might coexist with the conditions that lead to cataracts.Side-effects such as infection and inflammation, and conditions such asglaucoma, can be treated with therapeutic agents that may beincorporated into additional devices that may be secured to the IOL. Inaddition to IOL's, ocular implants not including lenses may be implantedto address various other conditions.

Posterior capsular opacification (PCO) is a condition that affects someIOL implantations, and occurs due to migration of lens epithelial cellsinto the region between the IOL and the posterior portion of the lenscapsule. As these lens epithelial cells proliferate and differentiate inthis region, the posterior portion of the lens capsule becomes opaque.This can cause visual impairment, sometimes referred to as a secondarycataract. This effect may be limited by the structure of the IOL itself,such as forming the IOL with a posterior surface and circumferentialside wall surface joined with a sharply angular edge (typically referredto as a square edge). The posterior portion of the lens capsulecollapses onto the IOL, and fuses to the IOL, and the fused join betweenthe posterior portion of the lens capsule and the sharply angular edgeof the IOL serves as a barrier to lens epithelial cells.

Previous patent applications, such as Kahook, et al., Ophthalmic DeviceFor Drug Delivery, U.S. Pub. 2020/0022840 (Jan. 23, 2020) disclosevarious configurations of drug delivery devices to be used inconjunction with IOL's. Others have proposed placement of drug deliverydevices on haptics. For those situations in which placement of the drugdelivery devices on the haptics is preferred, we propose configurationsthat do not disrupt the square edge needed to block migration of lensendothelial cells to the back side of the IOL.

SUMMARY

The devices and methods described below provide for placement of drugdelivery devices on IOL haptics while preserving a PCO barrier edgearound the entire periphery of the back side of the IOL. Theconfiguration may be employed with IOL's and other ophthalmic implants.The configuration allows implantation of an IOL along with implantationof drug delivery devices to treat various conditions affecting implantpatients while maintaining a PCO barrier which is effective around theentire periphery of the IOL. The device includes an IOL assemblycomprising a lens, and a haptic. The IOL assembly is characterized by ananterior surface and a posterior surface, and a circumferential sidewall, wherein the posterior surface joins the circumferential side wallin a sharply angular edge, where the sharply angular edge defines aplane of the sharply angular edge, and the sharply angular edge isfunctional as a PCO barrier edge. The drug delivery devices are disposedon the haptics, and are configured and disposed on the haptic such thata posterior-most surface of each drug delivery device is anteriorlydisplaced from the plane. With this construction, the presence of thedrug delivery devices on the haptics do not disrupt formation of a PCObarrier between the sharp edge and the posterior portion of the lenscapsule.

In another configuration which preserves a PCO barrier edge, theposterior-most extent of the drug delivery device may extend posteriorlybeyond the plane of the PCO barrier edge of the lens. In thisconfiguration, the drug delivery device is configured with a posteriorsurface and a circumferential side wall adjacent the posterior sidewall, and, like the PCO barrier edge of the IOL described above, theposterior surface of the drug delivery device joins the circumferentialside wall of the drug delivery device in a sharply angular edge (also aposterior-lateral edge).

Additionally, other configurations of the drug delivery device describedbelow provide for stable positioning of the IOL and drug delivery devicewithin the capsular bag. The anterior surface of the drug deliverydevice is configured such that forces exerted on the drug deliverydevice by the capsular bag do not promote tilting of the IOL relative tothe equatorial plane of the capsular bag, so that the optical axis ofthe IOL lens is not angled relative to the optical axis of the eye. Theposterior surface may be a flat surface parallel to the plane of theIOL, or a curved surface bounded by an edge which lies in a planeparallel to the plane of the IOL.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the environment of use of an ophthalmic implantsystem for drug delivery.

FIG. 3 is a view of the IOL and drug delivery devices, showing theposterior aspect of the device.

FIG. 4 is a view of the IOL and drug delivery devices, showing theanterior aspect of the device.

FIG. 5 illustrates the intraocular lens and drug delivery devices,illustrating the anterior offset of the haptics and drug deliverydevices.

FIG. 6 illustrates the sharply angular edge of the IOL.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate an IOL and drug delivery device combination inwhich the drug delivery device posterior is provided with a PCO barrieredge distinct from the PCO barrier edge of the IOL.

FIG. 9 shows the drug delivery device similar to that of FIG. 8 with theaddition of additional panels or blocks depending from an anterior panelof the drug delivery device.

FIG. 10 illustrates a configuration in which the plane (D) isposteriorly displaced from the plane (P) defined by the PCO barrier edge24E of the IOL.

FIG. 11 illustrates a configuration of the drug delivery device and thehaptic configured to avoid twisting of the drug delivery device aboutthe haptic.

FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate a means of preventing outward movement of thedrug delivery device on the haptic, and features of the drug deliverydevice which prevent or limit twisting of the drug delivery devicewithin the capsular bag.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONS

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate placement and use of an IOL (or otherophthalmic implant system) in the eye of a patient. The eye 1 includes alens 2 (the natural lens of the eye) and lens capsular bag 3, and theanterior chamber 4 which includes the cornea 5 and iris 6 and aqueoushumour filling the space between the cornea and the iris, and aposterior chamber 7 between the iris and the capsular bag. The posteriorcavity/vitreous body 8 is the large space between the lens and theretina 9. The natural lens 2 of the eye is characterized by an opticalaxis 10. The capsular bag is characterized by an equatorial plane 13,which is generally perpendicular to the optical axis. (In the followingdescription of the ophthalmic implant and/or intraocular lens system,the terms posterior and anterior will be used in relation to the anatomyof the eye, in which the cornea is anterior and the retina isposterior.)

FIG. 2 illustrates a placement of the IOL system (or other ophthalmicimplant system) 11 in the eye including the intraocular lens assembly 12and drug delivery device 30 which is implanted in the capsular bag inconjunction with the intraocular lens assembly 12. As shown in FIG. 2,and in more detail in FIGS. 3 through 5, the drug delivery device 30 isdisposed on the haptics 28. The intraocular lens assembly 12 includes alens 24 and one or more haptics 28, and one or more drug deliverydevices 30. The intraocular lens assembly 12 is characterized by ananterior surface 24A and a posterior surface 24P and a circumferentialside wall surface 24C. Other ophthalmic implants such as a capsulartension ring, or a capsular scaffold for holding the drug deliverydevices in place may take the place of the IOL. The haptics may be anyform of haptic, such as C-loops or J-loops.

FIG. 3 is a view of the IOL 12 and drug delivery devices 30, showing theposterior aspect of the device, including the posterior surface 24P ofthe lens 24, and the sharply angular posterior-lateral edge 24E of theIOL, which may be the edge of the lens proper, or the edge of a framesurrounding the lens. The joint 31 between the haptic and the lens ispreferably displaced/offset anteriorly from the sharp edge, to retainthe PCO edge entirely around the periphery of the posterior side of thelens. (Typically, the lens and haptics will be integrally formed, andthis “joint” refers to the transition between the lens and the haptic.)A drug delivery device 30 is disposed on one or both haptics 28(preferably both), secured in any suitable manner, such as a frictionfit of the tubular (rectangular or cylindrical) drug delivery deviceslipped over the haptic. The drug delivery device is characterized by aposterior surface 30P, facing posteriorly just as the posterior surface24P of the lens does. The posterior surface 30P is also displaced/offsetanteriorly from the posterior-lateral edge 24E, to avoid disruption ofthe fusion of the posterior capsule 3 to the posterior-lateral edge 24E.For completeness, FIG. 4 is a view of the IOL and drug delivery devices,showing the anterior aspect of the device, including the anteriorsurface 24A of the lens 24, each haptic 28, and the drug deliverydevices 30 secured to the haptics. The front edge of the IOL, at whichpoint the anterior surface 24A meets the circumferential side wallsurface of the IOL, may be a sharply angular edge comparable to the edge24E on the posterior side of the IOL, or may be rounded or configured toobtain desired optical characteristics.

FIG. 5 illustrates the intraocular lens assembly 12, including the lens24, one or more haptics 28, and one or more drug delivery devices 30. Asshown in FIG. 5, the sharp edge 24E between the posterior surface 24P ofthe IOL and circumferential side wall surface 24C is an edge thatcircumscribes the lens 24 (preferably entirely circumscribes the lens),and establishes a plane (P) in which the sharp edge lies. Theposterior-most extent of the drug delivery devices and optionally, thejoint between the haptic and the lens is displaced anteriorly from thisplane, not extending posteriorly to the plane (P) established by thesharp posterior edge of the IOL. In FIG. 6, the plane of the sharpposterior edge is marked as plane (P). The posterior extent of the drugdelivery devices attached to the haptics is limited (and, optionally,the haptic joint), for example, by an offset represented by plane D. Theoffset is sufficient to avoid disruption of the fusion of the posteriorportion of the capsule with the sharp angular edge 24E, and may be 0.1to 1.0 mm. The sharply angular edge 24E may be any edge configured tofunction as a PCO barrier edge, and may be characterized by, forexample, and inside angle α of 80-100°, and a corner radius 32 of lessthan 500 um, and preferably less than 60 um. This is illustrated in FIG.6.

As shown in FIG. 5, the natural lens capsule 3 (shown in phantom) hascollapsed onto the IOL, and, along the line at which the capsule meetsthe sharp edge 24E, and this forms an effective barrier againstmigration of the lens endothelial cells from the anterior chamber intothe space posterior to the IOL, between the IOL posterior surface andthe capsule posterior surface.

The drug delivery devices may be provided in many configurations. Asillustrated in the figures, the drug delivery devices may be configuredas a collar or sleeve with a through-hole, which can be slipped over thehaptic and retained with a friction fit or detent arrangement. The drugdelivery devices may comprise a polymer matrix with therapeutic agentsembedded in the matrix, or it may be comprised of a therapeutic agent inan erodible form. The matrix preferably comprises silicone, though othersuitable matrix material may be used. The entirety of the drug deliverydevice may comprise the matrix material loaded with therapeutic agent,or an erodible therapeutic agent, or the matrix material loaded withtherapeutic agent, or an erodible therapeutic agent may be limited toportions of the drug delivery device, while the remaining portions areprovided for structure.

In use, the IOL assembly of FIGS. 3 through 6 with the drug deliverydevice configured and disposed on the haptic such that a posterior-mostsurface of the drug delivery device will be anteriorly displaced fromthe plane (P) once installed so that the presence of the drug deliverydevice on the haptic does not disrupt formation of a PCO barrier withthe PCO barrier edge of the IOL lens when implanted within a capsularbag of an eye of the patient; and thereafter the capsular bag willapproximate the IOL, and form a PCO barrier between the posteriorportion of the capsular bag and the sharply angular edge uninterruptedby the posterior of the drug delivery device.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate an IOL 12 and drug delivery device 30assembled, in which the drug delivery device posterior is provided witha PCO barrier edge distinct from the PCO barrier edge of the IOL. Asshown in FIG. 7, the IOL system 11 includes the IOL 12 with haptics 28extending from the lens 24. The drug delivery device 30 is disposed onthe haptic, and, in this configuration, includes a posterior panel 33with a posterior surface 33P which may or may not extend posteriorlybeyond the plane (P) of the PCO barrier edge (shown in FIGS. 5 and 6),and an oblong aperture 34 which accommodates a portion of the hapticnearest the rim of the IOL lens which is oblong and mated to the oblongaperture. Two posts 35 extend anteriorly from the posterior panel 33 tojoin with an anterior panel 36 which is disposed on the anterior side ofthe haptic 28, forming the aperture 34 which is bounded by the posteriorpanel 33, anterior panel 36 and posts 35. As appears from FIG. 8, theposterior surface 33P of posterior panel 33 of the drug delivery deviceis joined to the side wall 33C of the posterior panel with a sharplyangular edge 33E. This sharply angular edge may be similar to that ofthe sharply angular edge of the IOL, formed at the junction of theposterior surface 33P and the circumferential side wall 33C of theposterior side wall. The sharply angular edge 33E of the posterior panelmay define a plane (D) which may be posterior to, or anterior to, orco-planar with, the plane (P) defined by the PCO barrier edge 24E of theIOL. Thus, the drug delivery device 30 is configured and disposed on thehaptic 28 such that the sharply angular edge 33E of the drug deliverydevice 30 is anteriorly displaced from the plane (P), posteriorlydisplaced from the plane (P), or co-planar with the plane (P). FIG. 10illustrates a configuration in which the plane (D) is posteriorlydisplaced from the plane (P) defined by the PCO barrier edge 24E of theIOL.

The sharply angular edge 33E of the posterior panel 33 preferablyextends entirely around the posterior panel and side wall of theposterior panel. The sharply angular edge 33E of the posterior panel 33,and the circumferential side wall 33C may immediately abut thecircumferential side wall 24C of the IOL, or the sharply angular edge33E of the posterior panel 33, and the circumferential side wall 33C maybe spaced from the circumferential side wall 24C, leaving a small radialgap between the PCO barrier edge of the IOL and the PCO barrier edge ofthe posterior panel 33, such that the circumferential side wall 33C ofthe posterior panel 33 is radially, outwardly displaced from the sidewall 24C of the IOL 24.

If the plane (D) is coplanar with the plane (P), and the posterior paneldirectly abuts the IOL side wall, the area of the posterior paneldirectly abutting the IOL side wall may be provided with an edge that isnot sharply angular, and the PCO barrier edge and remaining edge of theposterior panel will provide a sharply angular edge around entireperiphery of the combined IOL and drug delivery device.

FIG. 8 shows the drug delivery device 30 of FIG. 7 in isolation, showingthe aperture 34, posts 35 and posterior panel 33 and the anterior panel36. FIG. 9 shows the drug delivery device 30 similar to that of FIG. 8showing the apertures 34, posts 35 and posterior panel 33 and theanterior panel 36, with the addition of additional side panels or blocks37. The side panels may extend posteriorly from the anterior panel, orthey may be fixed to the posts. The portion of this drug delivery devicewhich comprises a matrix material loaded with therapeutic agent, or anerodible therapeutic agent may include one or more, or all, of theanterior panel, posts, posterior panel or side panel(s).

In use, the IOL assembly and drug delivery device configurations ofFIGS. 7, 8 and 9 may be implanted within the capsular bag of an eye ofthe patient, and the capsular bag may then approximate the IOL, and forma PCO barrier between the posterior portion of the capsular bag and thesharply angular edge of the IOL and form a PCO barrier between thecapsular bag and the sharply angular edge of the posterior panel. Thedrug delivery device 30 will be secured on the haptic 28 such that aportion of the circumferential side wall 33C of the posterior panel 33immediately abuts a portion of the side wall 24C of the IOL 24, or suchthat the circumferential side wall 33C of the posterior panel 33 isradially, outwardly displaced from the side wall 24C of the IOL 24,leaving a radial gap between the PCO barrier edge of the IOL and the PCObarrier edge of the posterior panel 33.

This may be accomplished by securing the drug delivery device 30 on thehaptic 28 such that the sharply angular edge 33E of the drug deliverydevice 30 is anteriorly displaced from the plane (P), such that thesharply angular edge 33E of the drug delivery device 30 is posteriorlydisplaced from the plane (P), or such that the sharply angular edge 33Eof the drug delivery device 30 is co-planar with the plane (P).

Various configurations of the drug delivery device may be employed toensure that the IOL assembly 11, once implanted, remains in thepreferred anterior/posterior position within the capsular bag, andremains in the desired orientation with the plane of the lens 24perpendicular to the optical axis 10 of the eye, and, correspondingly,coplanar with the equatorial plane of the capsular bag, or in a planeparallel to the equatorial plane of the capsular bag. FIG. 11illustrates a configuration of the drug delivery device 30 and thehaptic 28. To avoid twisting of the drug delivery device about thehaptic, the aperture through the drug delivery device (between theposterior panel and the anterior panel and connecting posts) is keyed tothe shape of the base of the haptic, in any suitable manner and anysuitable means, to inhibit or prevent rotation of the drug deliverydevice about the base of the haptic. In FIG. 11, this is accomplishedwith a haptic base 28B having a square or rectangular cross section, anda drug delivery device having a matching square or rectangular aperturesized to accommodate the haptic base. Thus, the drug delivery device isconfigured for disposition on the haptic, and the aperture is configuredto accept the haptic base, and the aperture is correspondingly keyed tothe shape and size of the haptic base in a configuration which inhibitsrotation of the drug delivery device about the haptic base. In theassembled configuration, the drug delivery device is disposed on thehaptic base, with the haptic base occupying the aperture. Any otherconfiguration, in which the aperture is keyed to the haptic base, may beemployed, such as an elliptical haptic base paired with an ellipticalaperture, or a hexagonal haptic base paired with a hexagonal aperture inthe drug delivery device. Thus, various means for preventing twisting ofthe drug delivery device about the haptic or haptic base may beemployed.

Means for preventing radially outward movement of the drug deliverydevice on the haptic may also be employed. As shown in FIG. 11 forexample, the haptic may include a detent ridge 38 protruding from thehaptic, with an optional corresponding detent accepting groove on theinterior of the drug delivery device aperture. The drug delivery devicemay, once in place over the haptic base, impinge or abut the detent,thus preventing movement of the drug delivery device over the haptic.FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate an embodiment of the haptic and drug deliverydevice, in which the haptic has a notch 39 disposed on the side of thehaptic base 28B. The notch combined with a configuration of the post ofthe drug delivery device which fits within the notch provides aninterference fit between the drug delivery device and the haptic. Oncethe drug delivery device is stretched over the haptic base, a post ofthe drug delivery device will fit within the notch, and the interferencefit between the notch and the post will prevent outward migration of thedrug delivery device.

FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate another means of preventing outward movement,which includes a shoulder 40 rising anteriorly from the haptic, combinedwith a shoulder on the anterior panel or plate of the drug deliverydevice. Once the drug delivery device is stretched over the haptic base,the drug delivery device will impinge on the shoulder and interfere withthe shoulder and will prevent outward migration of the drug deliverydevice.

FIG. 13 also illustrates features of the drug delivery device whichprevent or limit twisting of the drug delivery device with the capsularbag. The anterior panels are configured to limit the potential fortwisting of the IOL relative the equator, or the plane established bythe equator, of the capsular bag. Referring to FIG. 13, the anteriorpanel 36 has planar anterior surface 36A in which the entire edge 36Elies in a plane A, or a curved anterior surface in which the entire edge36E lies in a plane A, and this planar surface or edge plane is disposedin a plane A which is parallel to the major plane of the IOL lens B,and, when properly implanted, the equatorial plane of the capsular bag(item 13 in FIG. 1). The anterior panel may have a large lateral orcircumferential dimension 41 compared to the radial dimension 42 (FIG.11) and the anterior surface of the anterior panel is preferably flat,and aligned in a plane parallel to the plane of the IOL. With thisconfiguration, collapse of the capsular bag upon the IOL and the drugdelivery device will be unlikely to exert forces on the IOL and drugdelivery device which may twist or tilt the IOL within the capsular bag.

The IOL may be implanted by folding or rolling it into a small diameterconfiguration in an injector, inserting the injector through a smallslit between the cornea and sclera, and pushing the IOL from theinjector. Upon ejection from the injector, the IOL unfurls within thecapsular bag and the haptics open and expand to the extent permitted bythe confines of the capsular bag. The capsular bag will eventuallycollapse upon the IOL, and the posterior portion of the capsule willapproximate the surfaces of the IOL, and in particular the sharp edge24E. The tight join between the capsule and the sharp edge inhibitsmigration of lens epithelial cells to the region between the posteriorportion of the capsule and the posterior surface of the IOL. The drugdelivery device may be secured to the haptic upon manufacture, or it maybe secured by the surgeon immediately before implantation, immediatelyafter implantation, or long after implantation (for example as areplacement for an original drug delivery device which has beendepleted).

In each embodiment described, the drug delivery device can be configuredto deliver various therapeutic agents to treat various conditions.Brimonidine, latanoprost, timolol, pilocarpine, brinzolamide and otherdrugs in the general categories of beta blockers, alpha agonists, ROCKInhibitors, adenosine receptor agonists, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors,adrenergic and cholinergic receptor activating agents, and prostaglandinanalogues may be incorporated into the drug delivery devices to treatglaucoma. Aflibercept, bevacizumab, pegaptanib, ranibizumab, steroids,and aptamers may be incorporated into the drug delivery devices to treatwet macular degeneration. Complement factors, anti-oxidants andanti-inflammatory agents may be incorporated into the drug deliverydevices to treat dry macular degeneration. Methotrexate, antibodies,dexamethasone, triamcinolone, and other steroid agents may beincorporated into the drug delivery devices to treat uveitis.Anti-proliferative agents, anti-mitotic agents, anti-inflammatoryagents, and other medications that would inhibit the spread of lensepithelial cells may be incorporated into the drug delivery devices totreat posterior capsular opacification. Antibiotics such asfluoroquinolones, non-steroidal agents such as ketorolacs, and steroidssuch as prednisolones may be incorporated into the drug delivery devicesfor post-op management after cataract surgery to treat infection andinflammation.

While the configurations described above are described in the context ofintraocular lens, each configuration may be employed with various otherforms of ocular implants intended for implantation in the capsular bag,including capsular tension rings and capsular scaffolds.

While the preferred embodiments of the devices and methods have beendescribed in reference to the environment in which they were developed,they are merely illustrative of the principles of the inventions. Theelements of the various embodiments may be incorporated into each of theother species to obtain the benefits of those elements in combinationwith such other species, and the various beneficial features may beemployed in embodiments alone or in combination with each other. Otherembodiments and configurations may be devised without departing from thespirit of the inventions and the scope of the appended claims.

1-23. (canceled)
 24. An ophthalmic implant (11) comprising: an IOLassembly (12) comprising a lens (24), and a haptic (28), the IOLassembly characterized by an anterior surface and a posterior surface,and a circumferential side wall (24C), wherein the posterior surfacejoins the circumferential side wall in a sharply angular edge (24E), thesharply angular edge defining a plane (P) of the sharply angular edge;and a drug delivery device disposed on the haptic, the drug deliverydevice having a posterior surface (33P), and a circumferential side wall(33C), wherein the drug delivery device on the haptic does not disruptformation of a PCO barrier.
 25. The ophthalmic implant of claim 24,wherein the drug delivery device (30) is configured and disposed on thehaptic (28) such that a sharply angular edge (33E) of the drug deliverydevice (30) is anteriorly displaced from the plane (P).
 26. Theophthalmic implant of claim 25, wherein the posterior-most surface (30P)of the drug delivery device (30) is anteriorly displaced from the plane(P) by 0.1 to 1 millimeters.
 27. The ophthalmic implant of claim 24,wherein the drug delivery device (30) is configured and disposed on thehaptic (28) such that a sharply angular edge (33E) of the drug deliverydevice (30) is posteriorly displaced from the plane (P).
 28. Theophthalmic implant of claim 24, wherein the drug delivery device (30) isconfigured and disposed on the haptic (28) such that a sharply angularedge (33E) of the drug delivery device (30) is co-planar with the plane(P).
 29. The ophthalmic implant of claim 24, wherein the drug deliverydevice comprises a posterior panel (33) and an anterior panel (36)joined by a pair of posts (35), with an aperture (34) bounded by theposterior panel (33), anterior panel (36) and posts (35), and the hapticis disposed within the aperture to secure the drug delivery device tothe haptic or the base of the haptic.
 30. The ophthalmic implant ofclaim 29, wherein a portion of the circumferential side wall (33C) ofthe posterior panel (33) immediately abuts a portion of the side wall(24C) of the IOL (24).
 31. The ophthalmic implant of claim 29, whereinthe circumferential side wall (33C) of the posterior panel (33) isradially, outwardly displaced from the side wall (24C) of the IOL (24).32. The ophthalmic implant of claim 24, wherein the drug delivery devicecomprises one or more therapeutic agents.
 33. The ophthalmic implant ofclaim 32, wherein the one or more therapeutic agents comprises a betablocker, an alpha agonist, a ROCK Inhibitor, an adenosine receptoragonist, a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, an adrenergic or cholinergicreceptor activating agent, a prostaglandin analogue, a steroid, anaptamer, an antibody, a complement factor, an anti-oxidant, ananti-inflammatory agent, an anti-proliferative agents, an anti-mitoticagents, an antibiotic, or any combination thereof.
 34. The ophthalmicimplant of claim 32, wherein the one or more therapeutic agentscomprises or consists of a prostaglandin analogue.
 35. An ophthalmicimplant (11) comprising: an IOL assembly (12) comprising a lens (24),and a haptic (28), the IOL assembly characterized by an anterior surfaceand a posterior surface, and a circumferential side wall (24C); thehaptic (28) is joined to the lens via a haptic base (28B) having a shapeand size configured for acceptance of a drug delivery device (30); andthe drug delivery device (30) configured for disposition on the haptic(28), the drug delivery device (30) having an aperture (34) configuredto accept the haptic base (28B), the aperture (34) being keyed to theshape and size of the haptic base (28B) in a configuration whichinhibits rotation of the drug delivery device (30) about the haptic base(28B); such that, in an assembled configuration, the drug deliverydevice (30) is disposed on the haptic base (28B), with the haptic base(28B) occupying the aperture (34).
 36. The ophthalmic implant of claim35, wherein the drug delivery device (30) comprises a posterior panel(33) and an anterior panel (36) joined by a pair of posts (35), with anaperture (34) bounded by the posterior panel (33), anterior panel (36)and posts (35).
 37. The ophthalmic implant of claim 35, wherein the drugdelivery device (30) comprises an anterior panel (36) with an anteriorsurface (36A) and an anterior surface edge (36E), and the anteriorsurface edge (36E) lies entirely in a plane (A) which is parallel to amajor plane (B) of the IOL assembly.
 38. The ophthalmic implant of claim35, wherein the anterior surface (36A) is planar.
 39. The ophthalmicimplant of claim 35, wherein an anterior panel (36) is characterized bya circumferential dimension (40) and a radial dimension (41) and thecircumferential dimension (40) is larger than the radial dimension (41).40. The ophthalmic implant of claim 35, wherein the drug delivery devicecomprises one or more therapeutic agents.
 41. The ophthalmic implant ofclaim 40, wherein the one or more therapeutic agents comprises a betablocker, an alpha agonist, a ROCK Inhibitor, an adenosine receptoragonist, a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, an adrenergic or cholinergicreceptor activating agent, a prostaglandin analogue, a steroid, anaptamer, an antibody, a complement factor, an anti-oxidant, ananti-inflammatory agent, an anti-proliferative agents, an anti-mitoticagents, an antibiotic, or any combination thereof.
 42. The ophthalmicimplant of claim 40, wherein the one or more therapeutic agentscomprises or consists of a prostaglandin analogue.
 43. An ophthalmicimplant (11) comprising: an IOL assembly (12) comprising a lens (24),and a haptic (28), the IOL assembly characterized by an anterior surfaceand a posterior surface, and a circumferential side wall (24C); thehaptic (28) is joined to the lens (12) via a haptic base (28B) having ashape and size configured for acceptance of a drug delivery device (30);and the drug delivery device (30) configured for disposition on thehaptic, the drug delivery device (30) having an aperture (34) configuredto accept the haptic base (28B), the aperture (34) being keyed to theshape and size of the haptic base (28B) in a configuration whichinhibits rotation of the drug delivery device (30) about the haptic base(28B); such that, in an assembled configuration, the drug deliverydevice (30) is disposed on the haptic base (28B), with the haptic base(28B) occupying the aperture (34).
 44. The ophthalmic implant of claim43, wherein the drug delivery device (30) comprises a posterior panel(33) and an anterior panel (36) joined by a pair of posts (35), with anaperture (34) bounded by the posterior panel (33), anterior panel (36)and posts (35).
 45. The ophthalmic implant of claim 43, wherein the drugdelivery device (30) comprises an anterior panel (36) with an anteriorsurface (36A) and an anterior surface edge (36E), and the anteriorsurface edge (36E) lies entirely in a plane (A) which is parallel to amajor plane (B) of the IOL assembly.
 46. The ophthalmic implant of claim43, wherein the anterior surface (36A) is planar.
 47. The ophthalmicimplant of claim 43, wherein an anterior panel (36) is characterized bya circumferential dimension (40) and a radial dimension (41) and thecircumferential dimension (40) is larger than the radial dimension (41).48. The ophthalmic implant of claim 43, wherein the drug delivery devicecomprises one or more therapeutic agents.
 49. The ophthalmic implant ofclaim 48, wherein the one or more therapeutic agents comprises a betablocker, an alpha agonist, a ROCK Inhibitor, an adenosine receptoragonist, a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, an adrenergic or cholinergicreceptor activating agent, a prostaglandin analogue, a steroid, anaptamer, an antibody, a complement factor, an anti-oxidant, ananti-inflammatory agent, an anti-proliferative agents, an anti-mitoticagents, an antibiotic, or any combination thereof.
 50. The ophthalmicimplant of claim 48, wherein the one or more therapeutic agentscomprises or consists of a prostaglandin analogue.
 51. An ophthalmicimplant (11) comprising: an IOL assembly (12) comprising a lens (24),and a haptic (28), the IOL assembly characterized by an anterior surfaceand a posterior surface, and a circumferential side wall (24C); thehaptic (28) is joined to the lens via a haptic base (28B) having a shapeand size configured for acceptance of a drug delivery device (30); thedrug delivery device (30) configured for disposition on the haptic (28),the drug delivery device (30) having an aperture (34) configured toaccept the haptic base (28B); and the haptic further comprising a firstretaining structure, configured to inhibit outward migration of the drugdelivery device (30) from the haptic base; wherein in an assembledconfiguration, the first retaining structure (37, 36, 39) obstructs thedrug delivery device (30) and inhibits outward migration of the drugdelivery device (30) from the haptic base (28B).
 52. The ophthalmicimplant of claim 51, wherein the first retaining structure comprises adetent or shoulder on the haptic, configured to inhibit with outwardmovement of the drug delivery device (30) along the haptic (28).
 53. Theophthalmic implant of claim 51, wherein the first retaining structurecomprises a notch in the haptic base (28B); and the drug delivery device(30) comprises a second retaining feature comprising a post (35)configured to occupy the notch.
 54. The ophthalmic implant of claim 51,wherein the drug delivery device (30) comprises a posterior panel (33)and an anterior panel (36) joined by a pair of posts (35), with anaperture (34) bounded by the posterior panel (33), anterior panel (36)and the posts (35); and the drug delivery device (30) is disposed overthe haptic with one of the posts (35) disposed within the notch.
 55. Theophthalmic implant of claim 51, wherein the drug delivery device (30) isconfigured and disposed on the haptic (28) such that a sharply angularedge (33E) of the drug delivery device (30) is anteriorly displaced froma plane (P).
 56. The ophthalmic implant of claim 51, wherein the drugdelivery device (30) is configured and disposed on the haptic (28) suchthat a sharply angular edge (33E) of the drug delivery device (30) isposteriorly displaced from a plane (P).
 57. The ophthalmic implant ofclaim 51, wherein the drug delivery device (30) is configured anddisposed on the haptic (28) such that a sharply angular edge (33E) ofthe drug delivery device (30) is co-planar with a plane (P).
 58. Theophthalmic implant of claim 55, wherein the posterior-most surface (30P)of the drug delivery device (30) is anteriorly displaced from the plane(P) by 0.1 to 1 millimeters.
 59. The ophthalmic implant of claim 51,wherein the drug delivery device comprises one or more therapeuticagents.
 60. The ophthalmic implant of claim 59, wherein the one or moretherapeutic agents comprises a beta blocker, an alpha agonist, a ROCKInhibitor, an adenosine receptor agonist, a carbonic anhydraseinhibitor, an adrenergic or cholinergic receptor activating agent, aprostaglandin analogue, a steroid, an aptamer, an antibody, a complementfactor, an anti-oxidant, an anti-inflammatory agent, ananti-proliferative agents, an anti-mitotic agents, an antibiotic, or anycombination thereof.
 61. The ophthalmic implant of claim 59, wherein theone or more therapeutic agents comprises or consists of a prostaglandinanalogue.
 62. A method of treating an eye disease in a patient in needthereof, the method comprising: implanting an ophthalmic implant into acapsular bag of the eye of the patient, the ophthalmic implantcomprising: an IOL assembly (12) comprising a lens (24), and a haptic(28), the IOL assembly characterized by an anterior surface and aposterior surface, and a circumferential side wall (24C), wherein theposterior surface joins the circumferential side wall in a sharplyangular edge (24E), the sharply angular edge defining a plane (P) of thesharply angular edge; and a drug delivery device disposed on the haptic,the drug delivery device having a posterior surface (33P), and acircumferential side wall (33C), wherein the drug delivery device on thehaptic does not disrupt formation of a PCO barrier.
 63. The method ofclaim 62, wherein the drug delivery device (30) is configured anddisposed on the haptic (28) such that the sharply angular edge (33E) ofthe drug delivery device (30) is anteriorly displaced from the plane(P).
 64. The method of claim 63, wherein the posterior-most surface(30P) of the drug delivery device (30) is anteriorly displaced from theplane (P) by 0.1 to 1 millimeters.
 65. The method of claim 63, furthercomprising allowing the capsular bag to approximate the IOL.
 66. Themethod of claim 63, further comprising forming a PCO barrier between theposterior portion of the capsular bag and the sharply angular edge. 67.The method of claim 63, wherein the eye disease comprises glaucoma, wetmacular degeneration, dry macular degeneration, uveitis, an infection orinflammation of the eye, or any combination thereof.
 68. The method ofclaim 63, wherein the implanting comprises: folding or rolling theophthalmic implant into a small diameter configuration into an injector;inserting the injector through a small slit between the cornea andsclera of the eye; and pushing the ophthalmic implant from the injectorinto a tissue of the eye.